Lisa Sandberg: Pardon me, Mr. Pitts: Here’s how it works

First Things First: Rep. Senfronia Thompson, the liberal Democrat from Houston, can buy her own lunch.

Second, pledges don’t just “transfer” from one candidate to another. We’re not dealing with school credits.

Third: Jim Pitts can’t get what he wants without Senfronia Thompson.

Things have been pretty smooth sailing in the two days since Thompson got Rep. Jim Pitts, Candidate for House Speaker Jim Pitts, to learn the ground rules. Thompson may end up endorsing Pitts. Heaven knows, she’s no fan of Pitts’ opponent, incumbent Tom Craddick.

A little background: Thompson was running against Craddick but pulled out and endorsed Brian McCall when he announced his candidacy against Craddick. At the time, she encouraged the 60 or so members she said pledged to her to pledge to McCall. Everything was going great until McCall pulled out and endorsed Pitts.

Pitts should have called Thompson and asked for her support, but he didn’t. Not for two days, anyway. By then, Thompson was miffed, and telling newspaper reporters she had half a mind to jump back into the race. Well, almost as soon as the first paper left the printer, Pitts was on his way to see Thompson in Houston.

They met Friday for a light lunch (salads, hot tea, coffee) at Brennan’s, a five-star French restaurant. Thompson said he apologized for not consulting with her right away. Thompson let him no in no uncertain terms that “he can’t what he wants without me.”

Then she asked Pitts how he’d run things differently if elected, and if Democrats would get to play some leadership roles.

Thompson said she walked away from the lunch feeling pretty good. She may end up endorsing him tonight. She must consult though with one last member, someone who pledged to her, before doing so.